Sound-reproducing device



W. L. CHAMBERLAIN.

soumn REPRODUCING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9,19I9.

1,407,92 Patented Feb-.28; 1922.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILBUR L. CHAMBERLAIN, OF HERIDEN, CQNNECTICU'I.

SOU'IN'D-REPRODU'CING' DEVICE.

Application filed July 9,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, VVILBUR L. CHAMBER- LAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Sound-Reproducing Device, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of devices that are adapted to transmit the effects of sound waves for recording purposes, or to reproduce sounds from recording devices, and an object of my invention, among others, is to provide a device of this class that shall be extremely simple in ts construction and method of operation.

One form of device embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved phonograph.

Figure 2 is an edge view of my improved sound reproducer shown as attached to a supporting arm.

Figure 3 is a detail view illustrating the construction of the adjustable support for the diaphragm.

In the accompan ing drawings the numeral 3 indicates a use having a bracket 4 secured thereto for attachment of a swinging arm 5, the end of this arm comprising a support 65in which a stylus lever 7 is pivotally mounted, said lever having a needle or stylus 8' secured therein adapted to rest upon a disc 9 on a rotating table 10.

Heretofore it has been common practice in connection with devices of this class to employ a diaphragm having its edges clamped to a case structure and a vibrating lever secured at the center of the diaphragm so that the vibrations are communicated to the central portions thereof. I have found, however, that satisfactory results may be produced in a structure in which the member afiected directly by or acting directly upon the sound waves is allowed to vibrate in its entirety, and to the same extent throughout its whole surface, such a device embodying my invention. This device I have termed a sounder, whether it be used to transmit sounds for recording purposes, or whether it be emplo ed to reproduce sounds from record members, and my invention is not necessarily limited to the use of such a device in connection with a phonograph, as

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

1919. Serial No. 309,758.

it will be found of value in any device acting in connection with sound waves to receive the effects of the same or to set them in motion.

This sounderis not limited in its construction to any special material, as a wlide range of materials may be employed in producing the sounders from which satisfactory results may be obtained, very thin metal and cardboard having been employed by me in my experiments.

In the structure specifically shown herein the sounder 11 is supported on a frame comprising arms 12, that are preferably secured to the sounder throughout their entire length. This frame is secured at the end of the vibrating lever 7, and it is found that when so mounted and with the needle in contact with a disc 9, either to receive the effects of sound waves or to reproduce sounds, satisfactory results will be obtained.

The device as illustrated and described herein is so arranged that the needle, which is the vibrator or vibrating element in this special form of device, is caused, when acting as a reproducer, to vibrate in accordance with the ridges, grooves or like roughness comprising the recording elements upon the disc or record, but I contemplate a structure in which these conditions may be reversed, in which structure the needle will be rigidly supported against vibration.

In the structure as illustrated and described herein the sounder is not inclosed, but I wish to have it understood that if desired an suitable means for collecting, concentrating and directing the sounds may be employed but, as hereinbefore stated, satisfactory results are produced without such collecting devices.

It will be understood that the effects produced by the sounder and the needle upon the recording disc, or the effects produced .by the recording disc upon the needle and diaphragm, and the effects produced by the diaphragm to create sound waves or to receive the effects of sound waves are the same as in a phonograph of ordinary construction.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principles of operation of m invention, together with the device which now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

My device as illustrated and described herein is adapted for use with that form of record in which the irregularities occur in the sides of the groove in the record as well as those in which such irregularities occur in the bottom of such grooves, and in effecting and so adapting my device the support 6 is pivotally secured to the arm 5 and may be clamped in position as by means of a thumb nut 13, the device being arranged for use in connection with the grooves having irregularities on the sides as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and when the support 12 is turned to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 then the device will be adapted for use in connection with grooves in which the irregularities are in the bottom thereof.

I claim 1. A reproducer or recorder for phonographs or like instruments comprising a supporting member, a stylus carrying member pivotally mounted on said supporting member, and avibrating member supported wholly by said stylus carrying member and on the o posite side of said pivot from the end of t e stylus carrying member adapted to receive a stylus, said vibrating member in its entirety being subject to unrestricted vibrations.

2. A reproducer or recorder for phonographs or like instruments comprising a swinging supporting member, a stylus carrying member pivotally mounted on said swinging member, and a vibrating member supported wholly by said stylus carryin member and on the opposite side of said pivot from the end of the stylus carr ing member adapted to receive a stylus, said v1- brating member in its entirely being subject to unrestricted vibrations.

3. A reproducer or recorder for phonographs or like instruments comprising a swinging supporting member, a stylus arm pivotally mounted on said swinging member, a stylus secured to said arm at one end thereof, and a vibrating member secured to said stylus arm on the opposite side of said pivot from said stylus, said vibrating member being wholly supported by said arm and subject in its entirely to unrestricted vibrations.

WILBUR L. CHAMBERLAIN. 

